Sunset District harassment suspect behind bars

ON SAN FRANCISCO

Published 4:00 am, Tuesday, October 19, 2010

The tattooed woman who residents say is terrorizing the Sunset is finally confined and safe. Sheila Flowers, who became known for her violent outbursts and green tattoo on her face, is in jail, awaiting arraignment on Wednesday for an assault charge, with more to come.

Denis O'Leary, the new captain at the Police Park Station, says Flowers had five outstanding misdemeanor counts, "and that's in addition to the arraignment on Wednesday."

Terrific. But the long and tedious process has left many residents of the Sunset frustrated. They'd been complaining about Flowers for weeks. Simone Haas, who was the subject of an unprovoked daylight attack while walking her 4-year-old son in a stroller, filed for a court order to keep Flowers from approaching her.

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She says police originally told her to "stop whining." Haas was then told she would have to serve a restraining order herself - which, when you are trying to get someone to stay away from you, spectacularly misses the point.

O'Leary says he's straightened that out and that officers will serve the order, but it points to the confusion that seems to surround these cases. For example, when asked about Flowers last week, Seth Steward, a spokesman for the district attorney's office, said her name didn't come up on the computer. Now it turns out she's listed repeatedly with outstanding warrants.

"That's been the issue all along," said Larry Rosenfeld, vice president of the Inner Sunset Park Neighbors. "How do we communicate these things?"

For example, the courts, the DA's office and the police are not always able to share information in a database.

"I think the publicity for this highlighted some of the things we can improve on," said Sharon Woo, the attorney who is handling Flowers' case for the DA's office.

At present, Flowers is confined with a bail of $25,000 and barring any changes will be confined until her jury trial on Nov. 5. Hopefully, she can then be placed not only in a program that will provide mental health services, but also a follow-up program that can keep her safe and healthy.

"There are people who think these are petty crimes," said Steward. "But these are things that the residents deal with daily. At the DA's office we take them seriously."

Once you get everyone's attention.

With the large Chinese population in San Francisco, it only makes sense for candidates to have their name entered on a ballot in both English and Chinese. But translating an English name to Chinese is hardly an exact science, and that has caused a controversy in the race for Superior Court judge between Michael Nava and incumbent Richard Ulmer.

Typically, candidates find Chinese phrases that sound like their English name. For example, District 10 Supervisor candidate Lynette Sweet is using "Ho, Lin Suet," where Lin Suet mimics her name. Ulmer is using "Ao Ma," which sounds like his surname.

But Sing Tao Daily reporter Jane Xiao says that Nava is "a totally different story." Xiao says Nava's name on the ballot, "Lee, Jing Ping" not only sounds nothing at all like Nava, it incorporates "Lee," one of the most popular Chinese names, and two words which translate to "justice and fair."

Critics say Nava is hoping Cantonese-speaking voters will think he is Chinese and vote for him.

"It would be like someone who is Irish registering as Jose Gonzales," said Superior Court Judge Lillian Sing, an Ulmer supporter. "It's misleading. This is a judicial race where integrity, honesty and character are important."